Film-patch



R. C. MERCER.

FILM PATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1920.

1,389,523, I Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

PATENT, OFFICE.

IBiAYMOND 0.1330113, or nos ANGELES, curron'nmj FILM-PATCH.

'Application filed June 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMoND-C. MERCER,

I a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los'Angeles and State of'California, have invented a new and useful Film-Patch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of motion picture film, being more particularly a device for fastening togetherends of film. In the production of motion pictures it frequently happens during the Various opera: tions of printing, developing, drying the film and making up the film that the film is broken, and it is 'the principal object of my invention to producea film patch of simple form and construction, which may be readily used for securing the ends of film together, such patch being of such a nature that the same may be used over a great number of times.

The inventionconsists in general terms of a patch preferably formed of sheet metal consisting of a sheet metal body portion having fingers or prongs formed thereon.

Further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from the following specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only, a

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of two pieces of film having their ends joined together and secured by means of a patch embodying a form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the patch shown in Fig. 1.

F'g. 3 is an end view of the patch, the

1 film being shown in section, such view illusoperation of trating the position of the patch in position about to. be used on the. film.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.3, showapproximately the width of what 1s. known ing a patch as the same appears when the patching the film is partly completed.

F i 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 45 showlng the patch in place.

Fig. 6 is an end View of a modified form of patch.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of two pieces of film showing the form of patch disclosed in Fig. 6 fastened thereto.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of another modified form.of-patch; and

F ig. 9 is an enlarged side view of the patch shown in Fig. 8.

The patch shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,

1920. Serial No. 385,784.

consists of a plate 11 each side ofwhich is provided with a series of outwardly extending fingers or spurs 12, such fingers being rounded on their ends as indicated at 13 and being of a proper size to enter the-perfora- Specification Late Patent. Patented Aug. 30, 1921. i

tions 14 on the sides of the film indicated at 15, such film being what is commonly known as movingpicture film. The patch is preferably made of German silver or a metal which is not subject to the action of the chemicals used in the development of the film, but it is to be understood that the patch may be made of other materials without departing from. the spirit of my invention.

The patch is preferably bowed or bent as shown in Figs.' 2 and 3, the angle of the fingers 12 of the patch being such that they are in proper position to enter the perforations in the film when placed in the posi tion shown in Fig. 3. It'is to be understood that the patch is frequently. used in the dark room and that by making the patch-in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 that it is a very simple matter to brin the two ends of film to be patched toget er upon each other and insert the fingers on the patch through the corresponding perforations in the ends of the film.

This procedure of patching the film, is

carried out. as indicated in Figs. '3 to 5, in-

elusive, Fig. 3 showing the patch about to be applied to the overlapping ends of film Fig. at the fingers partially inserted through the perforations in the film after which operation the patch is bent flat as indicated 1n Fig. 5, in which position the fingers are entirely inserted through the perforations in the film and the film appears as shown in Fig. 1.

It is also to be noted thatthe patch is of as a frame, such as indicated at 17 in Fig.

1, that is,.the space taken up on the film by a single scene. By making the patch ap proximately of the Width indicated but very little of the film is taken up by the patch- I ing operation, this being quite important when the break occurs in the film, and it is necessary to patch'the same during that portion of the film which is known as action, that is, a scene in which the figures are in rapid motion, and to destroy a number of frames would interfere with the proper reproduction of the action. Ordinarily patches of this kind are made by doubling upon the film as indicated at 25.

over several thicknesses of the two ends of film and pinning the same together, this being done in many instances in the dark room as above referred to, the operators continually injure their hands from such operations. Such objectionable feature is avoided by the patch herein shown and .described.

A further advantage of the patch is that the ends of the film and the patch are flat and are comparatively ina straight line so that no bump or free ends project from the film, and further, the plurality of teeth engaging the film on each side of the patch produce a strong patch which is particularly desirable when film is placed-on the drums for drying, as under such circumstances the film tightens up on the rack and unless the patch is strong the film breaks at the patch. 1

In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the patch indicated at 20 consists of a flat sheet 21 having downwardly extending fingers or spurs 22. In using this patch the fingers or spurs are inserted in the perforations indicated at 23 in the film 24 and bent back In the form of patchshown in Figs. 8 and 9 the fingers'27 are preferably rounded as indicated at 28 for the purpose of reducing the liability of tearing the film.

In all the forms shown the film after bemg out ear of injury to the film or to the op-' erators as the patch has no portion thereof which projects from the film, the fingers in the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and Figs. 8 and 9 being of approximately the same width as the film. In the atched may be readily handled with-' lapped ends of perforated motion picture filmcomprising a member having a fiat body and projections of substantially uni- .form width formed on said body arranged to extend substantially in thesame plane as the body perforationsalong the edges ofthe overlapped ends of the film.

2. .A film patch for connecting the over? lapped ends of perforated film comprising a body member formed of thin sheet metal having teeth formed on each side thereof extending outwardly from each side of the body portion, said teeth being spaced apart corresponding to the spacing of the perforations along the edges of the standard motion picture film and when inserted in the film extending substantially in the same plane as the body portion.

3. A film patch for connecting the overlapped ends of perforated film comprising a body member formed of thin sheet metal curved in cross-section, said member having a plurality of projections of substantially uniform width extending outwardly from each side thereof substantially in the same plane as the body portion and properly spaced apart to engage the perforations in the edges of the film.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 21st day of May, 1920.

RAYMOND C. MERCER.

portion through corresponding 

